The shortlist
My first pick is Ghost for a publication built around articles, newsletters, and paid readers. Choose Webflow for design control. Squarespace suits a blog within a small business site. Wix suits a blog tied to business tools. Publii suits a solo writer who wants a static site. Astro suits a publisher with a developer who can build the website. Sanity gives a technical team a shared place to manage content for that site or other channels.
Jodi Bando, founder of fucklocal.com, describes the concern behind her company's planned move:
"With the rise of agentic hacking, Wordpress running on shared hosts provides too much surface area for novel and traditional exploits. We are in the process of dropping Wordpress completely and should be complete by Q1 of 2027".
More good finds
My pick is Audible Premium Plus if you want a new book to keep each month. Start with Libby for free library loans. Choose Libro.fm to support local bookstores, Spotify for books within an existing plan, or Everand for a mix of ebooks and audiobooks.
Zwift is my first pick for social rides and racing. Choose ROUVY for filmed roads or TrainerRoad for focused training plans. MyWhoosh has no app fee. Wahoo SYSTM suits a varied training week. Try TrainingPeaks Virtual first if you already pay for Premium.
Tandem is my first pick for finding a steady language partner. HelloTalk suits people who like a social feed, Hilokal is built around live audio rooms, Lingbe favors quick calls, and Speaky offers a free place to look for a match.
Target is my all-round pick for home basics and everyday shopping. Store pickup adds to its appeal. Try Walmart for a full household basket or Amazon for an exact product. I would use eBay for used finds and Etsy for personal gifts. Best Buy suits electronics; Nordstrom suits clothing and shoes.
A clear-eyed look at the everyday
Useful apps. Thoughtful purchases. Clara Bennett on the choices worth a closer look.
A good find should earn its place in your day.
